“...this is an extremely professional program which is excellent value for money. I will happily recommend your services to my accordion colleagues in my local accordion club...”
- Terry McLaughlin, UK

Learn to play the piano accordion with our CD ROM piano accordion tutorial. Piano accordion instruction is by our piano accordion tutor Karen Tweed. Video and audio files combine with music notation, text and photos to make the learning process as easy as possible.

Karen Tweed is the most admired and prolific piano accordionist in the history of Irish traditional music. With 15 album credits, a relentless touring schedule, and, teaching posts at England's top summer schools, Karen has transformed the image of the piano accordion in twelve short years.

She can be regularly found at the Folk Beat Derby Festival and Folkworks Adult Summer School, Durham. Karen is also Core Tutor and Assistant to the Director (Alistair Anderson) on the Degree Course in Folk Music at Durham University.

The piano accordion tutorial caters for all levels from the absolute beginner to very advanced players. The tutorial also includes a performance piece and an interview with the tutor.

Beginners

In the beginners' section Karen demonstrates the basic skills of piano accordion playing using easy, slow-paced tunes. Jigs and reels are then introduced and ornaments are added gradually. The individual parts of these tunes are demonstrated on video at a slow pace and the full tune is subsequently demonstrated at a medium pace so that you can play along. Right- and left-hand fingerings are demonstrated in detail and, standard and alternative bass lines are suggested.



Topics Covered:

16 Tunes
Pop-up Video Screens
Reading Music
Precise Musical Notation
Notes and Scales
Easy Airs
Beginners' Jigs and Reels
Three-Note Triplets
Cuts and Rolls
Right- and Left-Hand Fingering
Jigs and Reels with Ornamentation


Advanced

The advanced section features jigs and reels that are more highly ornamented. Other tune types - Polkas, Slides and Hornpipes - are also presented. Karen demonstrates a range of ornamentation techniques and bass patterns unique to her style:


Topics Covered:

13 Tunes Including:
Jigs and Reels
Polkas and Slides
Hornpipes
Slip Jigs
Advanced Bass Patterns
Fundamentals and Counter basses
Seventh and Diminished Chords
Single-Note Triplets
Bellows Pulse
Minor Keys


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